Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I have to give Aaron credit for this one...he picked it out of the Schwan's magazine. I added my own and switched things up to fit what I had on hand. SUPER easy and delicious! Even Seth approved! :)

Chicken Penne

1-2 chicken breasts, cubed

1 chopped red pepper

1 chopped yellow pepper (or just one or whatever you have!)

1/4 c diced onion (or use dried onion)

2 tsp olive oil

8-10 oz penne pasta (I use whole grain)

1 cup frozen peas

1 cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 Tbs corn starch (or flour)

3 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese

Boil water and add pasta and peas.

While pasta is cooking, cook chicken in olive oil. Set aside in large serving bowl.

Add pepper(s) and onion to same skillet (you might need to add more oil)-saute over medium heat for 4-6 minutes. Add to chicken.

When pasta is done, drain and add to chicken and vegetables.

In a GLASS dish, mix broth and starch/flour. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Stir and microwave an additional minute or until it bubbles. Stir again and add cheese. Stir well and pour over pasta mixture. Mix well and enjoy!

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

*as an aside...since I cannot access my blog directly from our borrowed computer, I can't reply to comments. There aren't many, but I do read and appreciate them and wish I could respond!*

I realized that I haven't posted much about Anna for a while...posts or pictures! :( The main reason is that she's in school all day, so I don't get many pictures of her anymore. :(

Seriously, this girl has stretched me more than anything I imagined as a mother. She has the sweetest spirit and such a kind heart. But she is also a lot like her Mama...she has trouble with self-control, especially with her words. Being a lot alike can cause a lot of friction! I see my ugly sins in her actions and it brings me to my knees, begging for God's patience and wisdom and strength and grace. And what an awesome God He is to supply all of that for me!

We recently went through the book "Shepherding A Child's Heart" by Ted Trip with our small group. Great book. I think I could read it every month and get something new out of it every time. Anna is to the age now that she can understand the "heart issues" of her behaviors. I've been so blessed to see her respond to this new approach we're trying. A while back I was talking to her about her sin (disobeying and sassing, I'm sure) and how important it was to ask God to forgive us. She readily asked for my forgiveness but this time, she didn't want to pray and ask God for His (amazing how early Satan can use our pride!!). She wanted to know why it was so important. I used the illustration of sin building a wall between us and God and how every time we refuse to repent and ask for forgiveness, it adds a brick to that wall. As I was explaining, I didn't know how well she would understand. I was just praying she would get a little bit of it. But she got the whole thing. She right away bowed her head and prayed. And even weeks later, she remembered the example. What joy to see my daughter grasping spiritual truths!

And what joy to see her thrive in her role as big sister!!!

Every day, when she wakes up in the morning and when she gets home from school, she wants to play with Isaac. As you've seen in past pictures and videos...she's very good at it! And Jacob can't wait for her to get home-he's so bored without his best friend to play with all day!!!

Over the last half of Spring Break, we went to visit Bruce & Shirley. Since it wasn't their break, Anna got to visit school with Shirley (she teaches kindergarten). Poor girl was like a magnet for all the kids!! One girl even asked "Can I play with the little girl?" as if Anna was much younger! The kids just swarmed her and couldn't be quick enough to help her. I laughed the most at how so many would just reach out and stroke her hair! And there were definitely a couple of little boys that were starry-eyed over her. It was so funny. Anna was completely overwhelmed!! Within an hour or so, she found herself and was having a grand time playing with them.

Isaac adores his big sister!

It has already been quite a journey, being her Mama, for the last 5.5 years. There are days when I'm certain I'll be shipping her to Papa & Binga's house as soon as she's 13. There are days when I can't wait to see how she will change and grow. And every day, I can't believe how quickly time is passing me by and how quickly she is growing up.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Oh Jacob. Tonight you came stumbling out of your room, rubbing your eyes. "Back to bed, buddy." I said. As you crawled into bed you started singing the Wonder Pets theme song (a new favorite on Netflix) It went like this:

Saturday, March 12, 2011

A little early...Tuesday Isaac will be 4 months old! I forget how quickly time goes by, especially when they're babies.Isaac, you are such a delightful baby! You smile, giggle, and talk, talk, talk! I believe you will be giving big sister a run for her money in that department!! At your cardiology appointment, you weighed 15 pounds! That's a 3 pound gain in 2 months. And you're 26" tall now! That's almost 2" you grew. You never, ever sit still. And if I don't swaddle you up tight for sleeping, you wake yourself up with flailing limbs. The last couple of weeks you've started to realize your hands are your own! :) You can grab a toy & put it in your mouth (what else?!). You really like your carseat toy. When you wake up, instead of crying you just start playing with your toy. I still can't get you to go more than 3 hours between eating! I think it's because you move so much, you really work up an appetite! My only complaint is that you decided a couple weeks ago to stop sleeping so well at night. :( Please can you go back to sleeping all night?? Mama needs her sleep, Bubba!I think you might be the most-loved little brother there is! Anna is very good with you. She can make you stop crying in an instant! You're getting close to being too big for her to carry you, though. Jacob really wants to play with you, so I know he'll be ecstatic when you're big enough to actually play!!You do NOT like to lay down, even when you're tired. You would much rather stand up or sit up. For about a month now you can sit up in the corner of the couch or chair all on your own! You even try to pull yourself up farther if you think you're laying back too much. I don't remember Anna or Jacob being this active so early. I have a feeling you'll be crawling & walking long before the others did! I think Daddy went from crawling to running...will you follow in his footsteps??Just tonight I think I can see two white spots on your bottom gums!! You've been drooling for weeks and recently have really started chewing on your hands. Whether your teeth appear right away or wait for 2 more months (like sis & brother did), we shall see!Isaac Jayden, you are the perfect addition to our family. We can't wait to watch you grow & learn & do! We love you I-Z :)

Friday, March 11, 2011

Which also means our allergies are kicking in :( And it means it's almost time to start getting out the spring & summer clothes & shoes. Good thing there's a great consignment sale coming up! www.thekansaskidscloset.com

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Isaac's follow up with his cardiologist is tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon. I covet any & all prayers! I have faith that everything is continuing to improve, but my "mommy mind" runs wild sometimes, reading into things and just worrying.

*UPDATED*

All the problems except the hole in his heart have completely resoved themselves! Praise God!! And even the hole is smaller still than it was 3 months ago. There was a new "problem" that he saw this time. Isaac's PDA (an artery that is needed in the womb and should close off by 2 weeks of age) is still opening and closing. Dr. Mo wasn't concerned much about it. He said, "Let's give him 6 more months and see if he outgrows them." So good news! Even if the hole isn't gone in 6 months, I would assume he will still say to give it more time. At the last appointment, he said it can take up to 5 years for kids to outgrow these problems. Thank YOU for praying!! We serve such a mighty God.

*********Someone asked me recently if I could remember a time when Isaac wasn't part of our family. Obviously, I do but I know what she meant by it. He is such a blessing! His laid back personality is a delight. He lights up the room with his precious baby smile & warms my heart with his antics (yes, already!) and the intent way he watches his sister & brother. I may remember life without Isaac, but I can't imagine our family without Isaac. He's a perfect addition! :) And he's growing & changing far too quickly!!!

Monday, March 7, 2011

We have gone to a local photographer with each of our children and had what he calls a "Baby Panel" done. We have a session at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. Then at the end of the year I have a collage of one pose from each session (for under $50!). I love it. And we also have gotten these black & white collages, what he calls "Kissables". I absolutely love these. We pay an arm and a leg for them, but in my book, it's worth every penny to capture their absolute preciousness at 3 months.

Soooo...can you tell which collage is which baby?? :)

If you live around here, I highly recommend Sundquist Photography for this. His prices are pretty high for any other pictures, but it is very high quality work and high quality portraits. And he really does do an amazing job at capturing the baby's personality!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Last month, we attended the funeral for a very dear family friend. I've known Ray my entire life. In fact, he's the one that drove my mom to the hospital when she went into labor with me! Where was my father, you ask? Hauling corn in Valentine, Nebraska. I was 3 weeks early. Ray and his family attended our little country church...one of three families that weren't related to us. But they were like family.

I have a few memories of Ray working at the bank, but most of my memories are of Ray as superintendent. Ray gave big bear hugs and had a heart even bigger. You'd be hard-pressed to find a man who cared more about every one of his students.

If he saw a need, he did everything he could to meet it (anonymously most of the time--there are many things I've heard he did for students, but you'd never hear him admit. Humility...another rare quality Ray possessed).

It wasn't uncommon to see him in the hallways and if you did, he always gave you a double thumbs up.

He was also the driver's education instructor for many years. And he made a deal with every one of his students: if he caught you without a seat belt on, you had to buy him a pop. If you caught him without a seat belt on, he had to buy you a pop. I don't think he ever had to buy anyone a pop! I remember one day when a girl was driving...her turn was coming up pretty quickly and she seemed to be oblivious to that fact. All the rest of us students were getting pretty nervous, hitting our imaginary brakes. But Ray, he just calmly reminded her she needed to slow down, her turn was coming up...his brake wasn't imaginary, but he didn't use it! :) He always had a very tanned right arm in the summers from all the driving he did with students (that evened things out with his other arm, from all the driving he did normally).

Ray was present at just about every sporting event. He loved the regional track meet. He was also a huge WSU fan.

His faith was an integral part of Ray. He was involved in Navigators back in the day and I think was responsible for getting most of the couples from our church to attend. He was also big on "Memorize the Word". He did just about everything at our church, at some point...even preaching! His wife, Jane, was the piano player. When he led the singing, he "directed". I just have to close my eyes when I hear a familiar hymn and I can see him standing up there behind the old podium, directing away. He was a Sunday school teacher-children's and adults' (although I don't know that he ever taught the really little ones!). There was no compromising when it came to his faith. And I have no doubt that there were many times it would have been easier to do so. I'm not foolish enough to think, that even in our small community, there weren't times that made it hard to hold fast to his faith and his beliefs. He was one of my dad's closest friends and a great example and encouragement to Dad. I know the Lord welcomed him to Heaven with the blessed words "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." Ray's faith was his life. His Savior was His best friend. He was sick for several months before he passed away, but that doesn't make it any easier to say goodbye. I'm so thankful we had the opportunity to see him one more time over New Year's. And my family continues to hold up those left behind in prayer...for strength and courage to face each new day without Ray.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Is that it's trash day! At least that's the best thing about it for Jacob.When he heard the truck coming back up the street, he ran around to the front and followed it all the way down the block! The driver got a kick out of him. Jacob was so excited.

My Kids

About Me

First I am a daughter of the King of kings! Wife to a wonderful man and mama to four adorable kids--Anna, Jacob, Isaac, and Grace! Raising them is my job. God has been pulling me out my comfort zone with homeschooling and cloth diapering, as well as trying much harder to live an over-all healthier lifestyle. Now I'm one of *those* moms! :)